FOOD DIVISION

The Food Division in National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) is divided into four sections namely Residue, Food Standard, Food Contaminant and Food Biology and Biotechnology.

The Residue Section comprises of Pesticide Residue Unit and Veterinary Drug Residue Unit. Food Standard Section is divided into Food Additive Unit and Standards and Nutritional Labelling Unit.

Food Contaminant Section comprises of Mycotoxin Unit, Heavy Metal Unit and Natural Contaminant Unit whereas Food Biology and Biotechnology Section is divided into Food Microbiology Unit, Food Molecular Unit and Genetically Modified Organism and Speciation Unit.

In addition to that, Mycotoxin Unit from Food Division was appointed as the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Mycotoxin analysis in July 2005 by the Committee of Food Analysis (JKAM) which was chaired by the Chemistry Department Malaysia.

Food Division of NPHL provides laboratory testing services to the monitoring and surveillance of food safety and quality programs to comply with the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985. It also provides laboratory services and consultative support functions for investigations of food outbreak and crisis.

The laboratory also constantly develops new analytical methods for food in line with current analysis demand and technology. It also provides training in the field of food analysis for laboratories under Food Safety and Quality Division and other Public Health Laboratories. The laboratory has been providing its services in the area of food analysis for the Ministry of Health Agencies such as State Health Departments, District Health Offices, Hospitals and also agencies from other ministries such as Fishery and Biosafety departments.

All Food analysts in NPHL are registered under the Food Analyst Act 2011. Food Division of NPHL is also accredited with ISO/IEC 17025 and certified with ISO 9001 to ensure the integrity and quality of the test results produced. To maintain its’ services quality, all food laboratories participate in Proficiency Testing (PT) program organized by various national and international agencies to monitor the reliability of test results and the competence of analysts.

SERVICES:

• Food Microbiology
• Food Molecular Unit
• Genetically Modified Organism and Speciation
• Pesticide Residue Unit and Veterinary Drug Residue
• Standards & Nutritional Labelling
• Food additive
• Mycotoxin
• Heavy Metal
• Natural Contaminant

ACHIEVEMENT

• MS ISO IEC 17025 (2005)
• MS ISO 9001: 2015 (2018)
• Makmal Rujukan Kebangsaan Mikotoksin

National Reference Laboratory, Mycotoxin Laboratory:

The main responsibilities of NRL is be the technical working group (TWG) which consist of various agencies/department that involved with mycotoxin analysis. Technical sharing and workshop training is one of the activities conducted by NPHL since 2006.